Holding base and information processing system

ABSTRACT

A holding base for removably holding a mobile phone has a first holding position in which the mobile phone is held under own weight, a second holding position in which the mobile phone is held by engaging a portion of the holding base, power supply terminals that are connected to the mobile phone in the first holding position and the second holding position, and signal terminals that are connected to the mobile phone in the second holding position, and at least one of which is separated from the mobile phone in the first holding position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuing application, filed under 35 U.S.C.§111(a), of International Application PCT/JP2007/001410, filed on Dec.14, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD

The embodiment discussed herein is related to a holding base forremovably holding an electronic device such as a mobile phone, and to aninformation processing system constituted by a mobile phone and theholding base.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, thinner and more functional electronic devices such asmobile phones have been sought. This has lead to innovations being made,even with regard to holding bases for holding mobile phones, to enablethe functions of mobile phones to be utilized or extended. Such holdingbases are also referred to as tabletop holders or cradles.

Heretofore, it has been possible to charge the battery of a mobile phoneheld in a holding base by providing the holding base with a chargingconnector, and connecting a connecter from a charging power unit to thisconnector.

Also, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2006-303859 discloses aholding base provided with a communication USB terminal for connectingan external peripheral device, a power supply terminal for supplyingpower from an external source, a charging controller that charges amobile phone using supplied power, and a USB controller having a hostfunction. As a result of this conventional holding base, an externalperipheral device and a mobile phone can be USB connected without usinga PC, and data communication is possible between the external peripheraldevice and the mobile phone.

Also, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) has had a standard called USB-OTG(On-The-Go) for connecting peripheral devices, and there are also mobilephones that incorporate a chip having a USB-OTG function.

However, conventionally, with a holding base provided with a chargingterminal and a communication terminal, both the charging terminal andthe communication terminal are connected to the mobile phone when themobile phone is being held.

Thus, in the case where, for example, a USB connection with a personalcomputer is established, every time the mobile phone is held in theholding base, a message indicating that fact is displayed on a displayscreen of the personal computer, forcing the user to respond. This istroublesome for the user who merely put the mobile phone in the holdingbase for charging, and having to perform unnecessary operation of thepersonal computer is annoying.

Also, because the connection with the communication terminal isconstantly established, even in the case of only charging, wear on thecommunication terminal is hastened, and the life of the communicationterminal is shortened.

Further, with such a conventional holding base, in order to hold amobile phone, it is not enough to merely place the mobile phone on theholding base. Some sort of locking operation is needed, such as placingand then pushing the mobile phone down, or sliding the mobile phone.Even this locking operation is greatly troublesome for the user who onlywants to charge his or her mobile phone.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the invention, a holding base has a firstholding position in which an electronic device is held under own weight,a second holding position in which the electronic device is held byengaging a portion of the holding base, a power supply terminal that isconnected to the electronic device in the first holding position and thesecond holding position, and one or more communication terminals thatare connected to the electronic device in the second holding position,and at least one of which is separated from the electronic device in thefirst holding position.

The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attainedby means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out inthe claims.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and arenot restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an information processing systemaccording to an embodiment as seen from the front at an angle;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the information processing system asseen from the rear at an angle;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a mobile phone as seen from the rear atan angle;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an internal structure of aholding base;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an internal structure of theholding base;

FIG. 6 is a right side cross-sectional view of the informationprocessing system;

FIG. 7 is a right side cross-sectional view of the informationprocessing system;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a state of signal terminals inthe information processing system;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the information processing system;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the information processing system;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are enlarged perspective views illustrating thevicinity of USB connectors in the holding base;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating an internal structure as seenfrom the back side of the holding base;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating an internal structure as seenfrom the back side of the holding base;

FIG. 14 is a plan view illustrating a state where the mobile phone isheld in a first holding position;

FIG. 15 is a plan view illustrating a state where the mobile phone isheld in a second holding position;

FIG. 16 is a circuit diagram illustrating the internal circuitry of theholding base; and

FIG. 17 is a block diagram functionally illustrating the circuitry ofthe information processing system.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained withreference to accompanying drawings.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, an information processing system 1 of the presentembodiment is composed of a holding base 3 and a mobile phone 4. In thepresent embodiment, the mobile phone 4, which is an electronic device,is a sliding mobile phone having a substantially rectangularparallelepiped outer shape, and a transmitter side (fixed side) SG and areceiver side (movable side) JG coupled by a slide mechanism. In themobile phone 4, charging electrodes TN5K and TN6K are provided on abottom TE, and communication electrodes TN1K to TN4K are provided on aback HE.

The holding base 3 removably holds the mobile phone 4 with the mobilephone 4 inclined backwards. A holding base body 10 covering thesubstantial entirety of the holding base 3 and forming the outer shapeis produced by molding a synthetic resin material.

The holding base body 10 has a bottom receiving portion 11 forsupporting the bottom TE of the mobile phone 4, a back receiving portion12 for supporting the back HE, and arms 13 for sandwiching andsupporting both sides SE.

With the holding base 3, in the case where the mobile phone 4 is merelyput in the holding base body 10, that is, in a free state of the mobilephone 4, the back HE is raised from the back receiving portion 12, andis supported by tip portions of the arms 13. As a result of the userpushing the mobile phone 4 backwards, the arms 13 bend to allow bothsides SE to fit into the arms 13, and the back HE comes in contact withand is supported by the back receiving portion 12.

Note that a position in which the mobile phone 4 is held by the holdingbase 3 in a free state (position illustrated in FIGS. 7, 14) will bedenoted as a “first holding position HT1”, and a position in which bothsides SE of the mobile phone 4 fit into and are held by the arms 13(position illustrated in FIGS. 6, 15) will be denoted as a “secondholding position HT2”.

The charging electrodes TN5K and TN6K contact and are electricallyconnected to power supply terminals TN5H and TN6H of the holding base 3in both the first holding position HT1 and the second holding positionHT2. The communication electrodes TN1K to TN4K, in the first holdingposition HT1, are separated from and do not contact signal terminalsTN1H to TN4H, resulting in being not electrically connected (see FIG.7). However, in the second holding position HT2, the communicationelectrodes TN1K to TN4K contact and are electrically connected to thesignal terminals TN1H to TN4H (see FIG. 6).

Referring also to FIGS. 4 to 13, the holding base 3 is provided withmultiple types of connectors CN1 and CN2 that are connected to thesignal terminals TN1H to TN4H and are for mutually exclusivelyconnecting to another electronic device, a cover member 41 that ismovably provided so as to open and close connecting ports of themultiple types of connectors CN1 and CN2, and to selectively open theconnecting port of only one of the types of connectors CN1 and CN2, anda switch SW2 that detects the open position of the cover member 41.

That is, the cover member 41 is provided so as to exclusively open theconnecting ports of the two connectors CN1 and CN2 by sliding. In otherwords, the cover member 41 acts as a shutter that blocks connectingports other than that of the usable connector CN.

The switch SW2 switches off when the connecting port of the oneconnector CN1 is open, and switches on when the connecting port of theother connector CN2 is open.

The connectors CN1 and CN2 are attached to the surface of a printedcircuit board 31, and are connected to the signal terminals TN2H toTN4H. The connector CN2 is attached at the same position as that of theconnector CN1 on the opposite surface to the surface to which theconnector CN1 is attached.

In the present embodiment, the connector CN1 is a USB-A terminal, andthe connector CN2 is a USB-B terminal. The USB-A terminal is provided onthe host side, and USB-B terminal is provided on the slave side(peripheral device side or device side). Also, mini USB terminals may beused. Note that the connector CN1 may be denoted as a “first connectorCN1” or as “the one connector CN1”, and that the connector CN2 maybedenoted as a “second connector CN2” or as “the other connector CN2”.

The printed circuit board 31 is held by the bottom receiving portion 11of the holding base body 10 with the connector CN1 held underneath theprinted circuit board 31, such that the connecting port of the connectorCN1 faces a back side EG of the holding base body 10, and with the endedge of a front side ZG positioned lower than the end edge of the backside EG by a first offset amount LF1.

That is, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the printed circuit board 31is attached at an angle, such that the rear end edge is higher than thefront end edge by the first offset amount LF1. Note that the firstoffset amount LF1 is set to be less than the thickness (longitudinaldimension) of the connector CN1.

The two connectors CN1 and CN2 are thereby disposed with respectiveconnecting ports facing the same direction in substantially the sameplane. The connecting port of the connector CN2 opens above theconnecting port of the connector CN1. The dimensions of the connectingport of the one connector CN1 in the slide direction (up and downdirection) of the cover member 41 are greater than that of the otherconnector CN2.

A connector CN3 and switches SW1 and SW2 are attached to the surface ofthe printed circuit board 31 on the same side that the connector CN2 isattached. Also, the signal terminals TN1H to TN4H and the power supplyterminals TN5H and TN6H mentioned above are attached to the same surfaceof the printed circuit board 31. The connector CN3 is connected to thepower supply terminals TN5H and TN6H via the switch SW1. Note that thesecomponents are attached by soldering.

The signal terminals TN1H to TN4H and the power supply terminals TN5Hand TN6H are all formed by gilding the surface of a metal wire rodhaving elasticity, and bending the gilded wire rod into prescribedshapes.

The holding base body 10 has, on the back thereof, a wall 101perpendicular to the printed circuit board 31, and the connecting portsof the connectors CN1 and CN2 open at an opening 102 provided in thewall 101. Also, the connector CN3 opens at an opening 103 provided inthe wall 101.

As illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the cover member 41 is slidablyprovided with respect to the opening 102 provided in the wall 101 at theback of the holding base body 10.

The cover member 41 is integrally formed from a synthetic resinmaterial, and has a rectangular planar body 411, a handle portion 412provided so as to protrude from the surface of the body 411, an opening413 provided in an upper middle portion, and a dog 414 provided on therear side for switching the switch SW2 on and off.

The cover member 41 slots into a slide groove (not illustrated) providedon the inner side of the wall 101, and is slidable up and down. When thecover member 41 is positioned at the bottom of the opening 102, asillustrated in FIG. 11A, the opening 413 is disposed in front of theconnecting port of the connector CN2, as a result of which externalconnection is only possible to the connector CN2. At this time, the dog414 causes the switch SW2 to operate by pushing from above, and theswitch SW2 is thereby switched on (see FIGS. 4, 12).

Also, when the cover member 41 is positioned at the top of the opening102 such as illustrated in FIG. 11B, the lower half of the opening 102is open, as a result of which the connecting port of the connector CN1is opened, enabling external connection to only the connector CN1. Atthis time, the dog 414 is separated from the switch SW2, and the switchSW2 is switched off (FIGS. 5, 13).

Incidentally, when the mobile phone 4 is put in the bottom receivingportion 11, the switch SW1 is configured to be switched on via a dog(not illustrated). That is, a hole (not illustrated) is provided in themiddle of the bottom receiving portion 11, and a dog (not illustrated)that projects outwardly from the hole is provided, and when the mobilephone 4 is put in the bottom receiving portion 11, the bottom TE of themobile phone 4 pushes the dog, resulting in the switch SW1 beingswitched on. The charging power supplied from an external source via theconnector CN3 appears at the power supply terminals TN5H and TN6H, as aresult of the switch SW1 being switched on. Note that in the case wherethe mobile phone 4 is tossed into the bottom receiving portion 11, theswitch SW1 will be switched on, whether the mobile phone 4 is in thefirst holding position HT1 or the second holding position HT2.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the back receiving portion 12 isprovided on the inside thereof with a lever 32 composed of syntheticresin, and a tip 321 of the lever 32 projects outwardly from within theback receiving portion 12. The lever 32, the main body of which isrotatable on a shaft 323, is biased by a spring (not illustrated) so asto be in the protected position illustrated in FIG. 7 in a free state.In the first holding position HT1 mentioned above, the lever 32 is in afree state.

The tip 321 is rotatably supported on a shaft 324 relative to the bodyof the lever 32. Since the tip 321 may thereby be displaced in contactwith the back HE of the mobile phone 4, it is possible to prevent theback HE of the mobile phone 4 from rubbing against the surface of thetip 321 and being marked, when the mobile phone 4 shifts from the firstholding position HT1 to the second holding position HT2.

In the projected position of the lever 32, an operation end 322 thereofengages the ends of the signal terminals TN1H to TN4H and moves them tothe right side in FIG. 7, as a result of which the signal terminals TN1Hto TN4H are pulled inside the back receiving portion 12. In this state,the signal terminals TN1H to TN4H and the electrodes TN1K to TN4K willbe separated, and will not come in contact with one another, whether themobile phone 4 is tossed into or set in the bottom receiving portion 11.

Then, as a result of the user pushing the mobile phone 4 into the backreceiving portion 12 so as to assume the second holding position HT2,the lever 32 is pushed to within the back receiving portion 12 by theback HE of the mobile phone 4, the operation end 322 moves to the leftin FIG. 6 at the same time, and the signal terminals TN1H to TN4H arereleased from the pull of the operation end 322. As a result, the signalterminals TN1H to TN4H project out from a hole provided in the backreceiving portion 12 as a result of their elastic force, and contact andare connected to the electrodes TN1K to TN4K on the back HE of themobile phone 4.

The operation of the arms 13 will be further described in detail.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, in the first holding position HT1, both edgesof the back HE of the mobile phone 4 are held by inner portions of thearms 13 on both sides, that is, by outward inner surfaces 131. The arms13 are, as mentioned above, formed by synthetic resin, and themselveshave appropriate elasticity. The state of the arms 13 illustrated inFIG. 14 is a free state.

The outward inner surface 131 of the arm 13 is curved the same as bothedges of the back HE of the mobile phone 4, and when the mobile phone 4is tossed into the bottom receiving portion 11, the mobile phone 4 restsnaturally against the arms 13, and assumes the first holding positionHT1 illustrated in FIG. 14.

In this state, only the power supply terminals TN5H and TN6H areconnected to the mobile phone 4, and the signal terminals TN1H to TN4Hare not connected. Consequently, only operations resulting from chargingor external power supply are performed, and USB communication is notperformed. Consequently, even in the case where an external electronicdevice is connected to the connector CN1 or CN2, there will no messagespopping up or troublesome operations required, unlike the conventionaltechnology, because no communication whatsoever is performed with thatelectronic device. Also, because the mobile phone 4 need only be merelyplaced in the bottom receiving portion 11, or tossed or flung in, theuser is able to charge the mobile phone 4 extremely simply.

When the user pushes the surface YE of the mobile phone 4 in thedirection of the arrow Ml, in a state where the mobile phone 4 is heldin the first holding position HT1, the arms 13 on both sides are pushedby the sides SE of the mobile phone 4 and elastically bend outwardly,and the mobile phone 4 is pushed into the back receiving portion 12. Themobile phone 4 assumes the second holding position HT2 illustrated inFIG. 15 as a result.

In the second holding position HT2, both sides SE of the mobile phone 4are elastically sandwiched and held by inner portions of the arms 13 onboth sides, that is, by inward inner surfaces 132. At this time, as aresult of the elastic force of the arms 13 on both sides, the back HE ofthe mobile phone 4 is lightly pressed against the back receiving portion12.

In this state, communication via the signal terminals TN1H to TN4H isstably and reliably performed, because the mobile phone 4 is in aso-called locked state, securely held by the arms 13. To remove themobile phone 4 from this state, the user needs only to disengage themobile phone 4 from the back receiving portion 12 by pushing the mobilephone 4 in the direction of the arrow M2.

Thus, it is possible to provide a holding base that is able to bothcharge an electronic device and perform communication using theelectronic device, and whose operation for holding the electronic devicein the case of the user only wanting to charge the electronic device issimple and does not require the user to perform troublesome operations,and to provide an information processing system.

To be specific, in the case of only charging an electronic device, theelectronic device need only be in the first holding position for holdingthe electronic device under own weight, with it being enough to onlytoss the electronic device into the holding base, for example. In thisstate, only the power supply terminal is connected, and at least one ofthe communication terminals is not connected.

Next, the circuitry of the holding base 3 will be described.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, in the USB connectors CN1 and CN2, respectivepins P1 to P4 are connected in parallel to one another, and arerespectively connected to the signal terminals TN2H, TN3H and TN4H, andthe power supply terminal TN6H. The power supply terminal TN6H, beingthe minus side of the power supply, is connected to a ground line G.

In the charging connector CN3, a pin P1 on the plus side is connected tothe power supply terminal TN5H via the switch SW1, and a pin 2 on theminus side is connected to the ground line G.

The switch SW2 for detecting switching the connectors CN1 and CN2 isconnected to the signal terminal TN1H, and connects the signal terminalTN1H to the ground line G according to the on and off state thereof .Consequently, an “L” or an “H” signal S1 can be output to the mobilephone 4.

That is, in a state where the cover member 41 is lowered to the bottomposition, it is only possible to use the connector

CN2 as mentioned above, at which time the switch SW2 will be on and thesignal terminal TN1H will be “H”. Also, in a state where the covermember 41 is raised to the top position, it is only possible to use theconnector CN1, at which time the switch SW2 will be off and the signalterminal TN1H will be

“L”. Consequently, which of the connectors CN1 and CN2 is being used canbe discerned, by using the signal that appears in the signal terminalTN1H.

Next, the information processing system 1 composed of the holding base 3and the mobile phone 4 will be described.

As illustrated in FIG. 17, the mobile phone 4 is provided with a CPU201, an audio portion 202, a wireless communication portion 203, anoperation portion 204, a display portion 205, a USB controller 206, amemory 207, a bus 208 and a battery circuit 210, as well as a camera, afingerprint sensor, a chip for the noncontact communication standardFeliCa®, and other chips or electronic circuitry that are notillustrated.

The CPU 201 controls the operation of each portion and the overalloperation. The CPU 201, by executing an OS and various applicationprograms stored in the memory 207, is able to perform variousprocessing, and also realize various functions. For example, the CPU 201is able to realize various functions including email transmission andreception, Internet communication, Web browsing, still image shooting,moving image shooting, credit card settlement, a music data libraryfunction, a USB host function, a USB slave function, a data input devicefunction, and a data display device function, in addition to thewireless phone function required as a mobile phone. Also, a function asa personal computer is realizable by installing Windows® as the OS.

Also, the signal S1 from the switch SW2 is configured to be input to theCPU 201 via the electrode TN1. The CPU 201 discriminates whether themobile phone 4 is operating as a USB host or slave, according to thestate of the signal Sl. That is, a flag is turned on in the CPU 201according to the signal S1, for example, and according to the state ofthe flag, it is determined whether the mobile phone 4 is operating as aUSB host or whether it is operating as a slave.

The wireless communication portion 203 is communicable with a fixedstation (base station) in a wireless network, and has a handoverfunction that enables communication while switching between multiplefixed stations. Long-distance wireless communication and short-distancewireless communication according to multiple communication standards canbe performed by the wireless communication portion 203. For example, thewireless communication portion 203 is adapted to communication standardssuch as FORMA-B, WCDMA, WiMAX, and wireless LAN.

The USB controller 206 has a USB-OTG function, and is operable as both aUSB host and slave. As mentioned above, the CPU 201 controls the USBcontroller 206, according to the signal S1.

The memory 207 includes a SIM card and amicro SD memory, as well as asemiconductor memory, a magnetic disk or the like. The SIM card storescommunication-related information and personal information on the usersuch as telephone numbers, SIP addresses and IP addresses, for example.The micro SD memory stores captured image data, transmitted and receivedemails, data downloaded from a network, and telephone book data, forexample.

The bus 208 is any of a variety of external buses or memory buses, a PCIbus, or the like. Data transfer between the CPU 201 and peripheralelements is performed via the bus 208.

The battery circuit 210 is composed of a built-in battery, a batterycharging circuit, a safety circuit, and the like. Power supplied fromthe charging electrodes TN5K and TN6K charges the battery, and alsoforms the power supply for operating the mobile phone 4.

In a state where the mobile phone 4 is held at the second holdingposition HT2 by the holding base 3, the electrodes TN1K to TN4K and thesignal terminals TN1H to TN4H, and the electrodes TN5K and TN6K and thepower supply terminals TN5H and TN6H are in a conduction state,respectively connected to one another. Also, the switch SW1 is on, andthe connector CN3 and the power supply terminals TN5H and TN6H are in aconnected state.

Therefore, power can be supplied to the mobile phone 4 and chargingperformed, by connecting a charging power unit to the connector CN3 viaa charging cord. Also, the information processing system 1 operates as aUSB host or slave, by connecting another electronic device to theconnector CN1 or the connector CN2 via a USB cord.

For example, when an external electronic device is connected to theconnector CN1 via a USB cord, the mobile phone 4 operates as a host(superior device), and the external electronic device operates as aslave (subordinate device). The external electronic device operates asan input apparatus, an output apparatus or a storage apparatus withrespect to the mobile phone 4, for example.

Also, when an external electronic device is connected to the connectorCN2 via a USB cord, the mobile phone 4 operates as a slave, and theexternal electronic device operates as a master. The mobile phone 4operates as a storage apparatus or a communication apparatus, forexample.

Thus, according to the present embodiment, the mobile phone 4 may beeasily switched, for example, between being a host or a slave, byproviding multiple types of the connectors CN1 and CN2 with differentshapes. Moreover, because the switched state is detected by the switchSW2 which is interlocked to the opening and closing of the connectingports of the connectors CN1 and CN2, switching may be readily performedautomatically without error.

Because the respective connecting ports of the two connectors CN1 andCN2 are disposed facing the same direction in substantially the sameplane, attaching and opening and closing the cover member 41 is easy, asis connecting a USB cable to the connecting ports.

Because the dimensions of the one connector CN1 are greater than thedimensions of the other connector CN2, the external dimensions of thecover member 41 are determined in accordance with the connecting port ofthe larger connector CN1, and thus the connecting port of the smallerconnector CN2 may be accommodated by providing the opening 413 in thecover member 41.

In the embodiment mentioned above, a micro switch is used for the switchSW1, which is a detection sensor, but other forms of switches or varioustypes of sensors such as a proximity sensor or a photoelectric sensormay be used.

In the embodiment mentioned above, the cover member 41 is provided so asto be slidable, but may be provided so as to be rotatable. One each ofthe connectors CN1 and CN2 is provided, but two or more of each may beprovided. In this case, multiple connecting ports are usable at the sametime for the same type of connector CN, but because the connectors areall uniformized to be either for host use or slave use, switching may becontrolled according to the signal S1 of the switch SW2.

Also, in the case where three or more types of connectors CN areprovided instead of two, preferably only one of the types of connectorsCN is connectable, with control being performed after identifying theconnectable connector CN using the signal S1.

In the embodiment mentioned above, the USB connectors CN1 and CN2 andthe charging connector CN3 are provided separately, but it is alsopossible to provide one connector for both USB use and charging. Theabove embodiment was described giving the mobile phone 4 as an exampleof an electronic device, but the present invention is applicable to aportable information device, a mobile terminal, a communicationapparatus, an electronic apparatus or the like apart from the mobilephone 4.

Otherwise, the configuration, structure, form, dimensions, material,number, control content, control timing and the like of the signalterminals TN1H to TN4H, the power supply terminals TN5H and TN6H, thebottom receiving portion 11, the back receiving portion 12, the arms 13,the mobile phone 4, the holding base 3, or the entirety or individualportions of the information processing system 1 may be suitably modifiedwithout departing from the gist of the invention.

All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended forpedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the inventionand the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, andare to be construed as being without limitation to such specificallyrecited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of suchexamples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority andinferiority of the invention. Although the embodiment (s) of the presentinvention has (have) been described in detail, it should be understoodthat the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be madehereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A holding base for removably holding an electronic device,comprising: a first holding position in which the electronic device isheld under own weight; a second holding position in which the electronicdevice is held by engaging a portion of the holding base; a power supplyterminal that is connected to the electronic device in the first holdingposition and the second holding position; and one or more communicationterminals that are connected to the electronic device in the secondholding position, and at least one of said one or more communicationterminals is separated from the electronic device in the first holdingposition.
 2. The holding base according to claim 1, comprising: a bottomreceiving portion that supports a bottom of the electronic device withthe electronic device inclined backwards; a back receiving portion thatsupports a back of the electronic device; and an arm that sandwiches andsupports both sides of the electronic device, wherein in the firstholding position, in which the electronic device is in a free state, theback is in a state of being raised from the back receiving portion, andis supported by an inner portion of the arm, and as a result of theelectronic device being pushed backwards into the second holdingposition, the arm bends elastically, such that said both sides of theelectronic device are sandwiched by the arm, and the back comes incontact with and is supported by the back receiving portion.
 3. Theholding base according to claim 2, wherein the back receiving portionincludes a lever whose tip projects from inside to outside, when theelectronic device is in the first holding position, the lever separatesat least one of the communication terminals from the electronic device,and as a result of the electronic device assuming the second holdingposition, the lever is pushed inwardly, such that all of thecommunication terminals are connected to the electronic device.
 4. Theholding base according to claim 3, comprising: a connector connected tothe communication terminals and for connecting to another electronicdevice.
 5. An information processing system comprising: the holding baseaccording to claim 1; and an electronic device held in the holding base,wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone.
 6. The informationprocessing system according to claim 5, wherein when another electronicdevice is connected to a connecting port of a connector provided in theholding base, said another electronic device operates as a superiorapparatus, and the mobile phone operates as a subordinate apparatus andas one of a storage apparatus and a communication apparatus.
 7. Theinformation processing system according to claim 5, wherein when anotherelectronic device is connected to a connecting port of a connectorprovided in the holding base, the mobile phone operates as a superiorapparatus, and said another electronic device operates as a subordinateapparatus and as one of an input apparatus, an output apparatus and astorage apparatus.